Council amends water rates: irrigation meter service charge eliminated, residential monthly fee increased

The Jersey Village City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-08 to change the city's water-rate schedule. The ordinance eliminates the basic monthly service charge for residential irrigation accounts and sets a single monthly service charge for each residential address.

Under the ordinance, the monthly service charge applied per meter will be restructured so that residential properties pay one charge per residence instead of paying separate basic service charges for each water meter, including irrigation meters. As discussed at prior workshops, the change increases the monthly residential charge by $5.05; staff said the revised per-residence monthly service charge will be $20.05 and the separate irrigation-meter monthly fee will be removed.

Assistant City Manager Austin Blease and staff told council the change aims to encourage irrigation meters (by removing a duplicative monthly charge) while simplifying billing and better matching costs to customers. Council had reviewed options at a February work session and directed staff to prepare the ordinance.

Votes and motions: Council Member moved to approve Ordinance 2025-08 amending Chapter 70 (Utilities), Section 77 (Rate Schedule); motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The change affects residential utility bills and incentives for customers to install dedicated irrigation meters; staff said it encourages irrigation meters by removing a second monthly meter charge while modestly increasing the base monthly fee for each residence.

What comes next: The ordinance takes effect for water used beginning in April and will be reflected in May utility bills.